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Our Associates
Introduction
PLANET & SOCIETY
Beyond Short-
Term Profits
Nurturing People
Process Excellence
& Governance
PLANET & SOCIETY 61
Axiata Group Berhad | Sustainability & National Contribution Report 2016
National
Contribution Report
PLANET &
SOCIETY
We have integrated Ncell in Nepal
into the DRP to respond in the
event of natural disasters. In 2016,
Ncell signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the
Government of Nepal to develop
a pro-active early warning system
using mobile technology.
Under the new early warning system, relevant
data from the Department of Hydrology and
Meteorology (DHM) will be logged, analysed
and transmitted to Ncell subscribers to provide
advance warning of impending disasters. In
Expanding our disaster preparedness into Nepal
The ‘Senehe Siyapatha’ disaster
relief fund was launched by
Dialog following the floods of May
2016. The fund enabled Dialog
subscribers to donate funds
through a special charity app,
which was matched 1:2 by Dialog.
This initiative quickly collected Rs. 14.9 million
from customers and staff, and was matched
with a donation of Rs. 35 million from Dialog
to reach its targeted donation of Rs. 50 million.
Senehe Siyapatha Initiative
The collected funds were disbursed in three
phases. Under the first phase, 50 water pumps
were donated to the Disaster Management
Centre to helpwith immediate flood relief. In the
second phase, the fund distributed footwear
worth over Rs. 11 million to 10,373 flood-
affected students from 33 schools. In the third
phase, ‘Senehe Siyapatha’ widened its scope to
provide housing facilities to families displaced
by the landslide in the Kegalle District.
The ‘Senehe Siyapatha’ fund is a model of
the way Axiata approaches disaster response
management. OpCos, in addition to supporting
Group-wide efforts, provide immediate relief to
disaster-afflicted communities.
2016, this systemwas used to warn subscribers
of potential floods through SMS messages. The
system, which receives immediate rainfall and
water information from the DHM in flood-prone
areas of the country, issued more than 20
alerts covering 48 areas and eight river basins.
Additionally, Ncell received a Global Mobile
Award in 2016 for Mobile in Emergency or
Humanitarian Situations. The award, presented
by the GSMA, recognised the aid and
humanitarian relief Ncell provided to displaced
Nepalese post the 2015 earthquake. The
earthquake was the worst to strike the region
in over 80 years and affected the lives of over
eight million people in the country.
Moving Forward
Axiata will continue exploring
ways to further mitigate its
impact on the environment
through the implementation
of green initiatives. We believe
that much more can be done in
the area of renewable energy
and tower design, and we aim
to apply our innovations in all
markets within our footprint.
At the same time, we will further
enhance the Group’s disaster
response plan. We are exploring
ideas including improving our
pre-emptive warning systems
and leveraging on mobile
technology in providing disaster
relief. The Group will also
intensify the sharing of best
practices between all our OpCos
who have developed invaluable
experience in providing disaster
relief.
Finally, we will continue to
deliver initiatives empowering
and enriching the lives of all
our community stakeholders.
The sustainability of our
communities is an essential
precondition of our ability to
continue doing business, and
we hope to develop mutually
beneficial solutions benefitting
all stakeholders.